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Dear Readers,

After almost five years of working with Hazon, and a year and a half serving as Editor-in-Chief of our blog, The Jew & The Carrot, I am going to be leaving Hazon in the beginning of January.

I am very sad to leave, of course, but also incredibly proud of everything we have done together in the last two years to make The Jew & The Carrot the vibrant online Jewish food community that it is. As I transition away from my position, The Jew & The Carrot is also changing.  From the blog’s inception in December, 2006, Hazon has depended on the creative and inspiring contributions from an impressive group of volunteer contributors. Now, the blog is shifting towards an all volunteer model, and we are seeking several outstanding volunteers to fill the following roles:

Editor-in-Chief
Business Manager
Circulation Manager
Associate Editors
Lead Contributor

These positions are perfect for anyone who wants to impressively build their resume for a career in new or traditional media.  We are looking for highly-motivated and capable candidates who want to make a real difference every day in the growth of the new Jewish food movement.  If this sounds like you, click here for more information about the positions and how to apply.

For some more sappy and proud words from me about the blog and Hazon, read below the jump…

I started working at Hazon as an unpaid intern in the summer of 2003, then joined the staff the following year after graduating college.  Over the past five years, I have been continually nurtured by this amazing community – and encouraged to grow professionally and personally in uncountable ways.  And for that, I am very thankful.

As for the blog…we officially launched The Jew & The Carrot in December, 2006 at Hazon’s first food conference. Our team of volunteer contributors began a conversation that continues today – one that combines healthy, sustainable food news with an inclusive, joyful Jewish community.  Since then, the blog has become an important voice in the new Jewish food movement. What started as Hazon bringing some of its thoughts about food to the larger audience grew into a true community-wide conversation, with contributors and readers chiming in from across the United States, Israel, Europe, and beyond. Some highlights from the past two years have included:

• Interviews with Jewish food thinkers like Michael Pollan, Joan Nathan, and Michael Ableman

• Extensive coverage about the raid of the Agriprocessors’ kosher meat plant and its aftermath – including an exclusive interview with a former mashgiach (kosher supervisor) from the plant. Several readers commented that they turned to The Jew & The Carrot as their primary source of Agriprocessors related news.

• Innovative recipes that take healthy, seasonal twists on traditional foods like: apple cider challah, savory hamantaschen with musrooms and onions, pesto blintzes, and homemade date honey for Rosh Hashanah

• Interviews with the leaders of the new Jewish food movement: from Rabbi Morris Allen of Hekhsher Tzedek, to kosher vitner Jeff Morgan of Covenant Wines and kosher artisanal cheese maker, Alan Glustoff of 5 Spoke Creamery.

• Controversial and inspiring personal essays that push forward the conversations around kashrut and identity.

• Extensive resources and tips for “greening” Jewish holidays, making a Shabbat or Kiddush table more sustainable, or finding a farm to visit with the family.

• An ethical food advice column from the hilarious yenta, The Shmethicist.

• “Unboxed” segments that demystify seasonal produce and offer practical advice and techniques for the kitchen.

In two years, our base of readers – which ranges from Orthodox to secular, and not Jewish at all – has grown steadily, forming a community that feels tied to the blog, the conversations, and each other. Two comments from readers help to illustrate the diversity and closeness of the community:

I have to confess, I am obsessed with The Jew & The Carrot. My favorite procrastination method is to hop on my Google Reader, hoping, praying, that they have another witty post about contemporary Jewish issues explored through food.

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I love The Jew & The Carrot – in my pretty right wing orthodox world, it’s hard to find people who care about the grand and expansive impact of food in our world, both physical and spiritual, for good and bad. Thanks for brining Michael Pollan and Torah together.

The press has also picked up on the blog’s impact – in the last year, The Jew & The Carrot has received press mentions in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Jerusalem Report, and many other publications. It was also named Best New Blog and Best Kosher Food/Recipe Blog in the 2007 Jewish and Israeli Blog Awards.

It is with simultaneous excitement and sorrow that I say goodbye to my role as Editor-in-Chief of this amazing blog.  But I am thrilled to leave it in such a strong and growth-poised place.  As I transition to the “Hazon staff alumni” association, I will continue freelancing and join Saveur Magazine as an intern.  But I’ll still be around, posting occasionally on The Jew & The Carrot, and keeping tabs.  Thank you for everything over the last year and half, and here’s to the future!

Veggily yours,

Leah

**p.s. the photo on top was taken at Hazon’s Martha’s Vineyard Bike Ride in…either 2005 or 2006.  Old school, y’all